Five out of 192 children brought to Mithi hospital died: Thar deputy commissioner

The children admitted in hospitals died due to medical complications, not inefficient treatment

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered the submission of daily reports on medical services, deaths and relief work from Thar district deputy commissioner (DC). The Sindh government has declared Thar a drought-stricken district, where relief activities have been initiated to 'mitigate' the effects of drought in the area. The report, received on Thursday, revealed that out of 192 children admitted in district and taluka hospitals of Thar district, five infants born prematurely with low weight could not survive.

The report, sent by Thar district DC Asif Jameel, said that 553 children between one to five years of age were treated in out-patient departments (OPD) in the district and taluka hospitals. On January 15, 58 children were brought in emergency in precarious conditions and were admitted to the hospitals. Treatment of 76 children already admitted was in progress making a total of 192 children admitted in hospitals under treatment.

The DC, in his report to Sindh CM, said that 690 children were also treated on Thursday in OPDs of 31 basic Health Units (BHU) and 18 government dispensaries operating under the administrative control of Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI).



According to the report, out of 192 admitted patients [children], 21 children were discharged from the hospitals when their condition stabilised. Four children born with low weight, suffering from birth complications were brought in gasping condition in emergency of Mithi Civil Hospital from different areas of Thar district but could not survive despite hectic efforts of paediatricians.

The Mithi Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) has reported facts in the report explaining the natural causes and not the inefficiencies of the medical staff.

The report said that one of the baby boys, son of Shaukar Sahar of Hamirabah village, was born in a private clinic of Kaloi taluka and weighed 3.7kg. He was admitted on January 13 at 4pm with a complaint of birth Asphyxia [a condition resulting from oxygen deprivation]. Necessary treatment was given as per protocol, but the child could not survive and expired on January 15 at 8.40am.

Another baby boy, son of Nando, resident of Islamkot, was born in Islamkot Rural Health Centre (RHC) weighing 1kg. He was admitted on January 11, at 7.40pm with complications of premature birth and Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Necessary treatment as per procedure was given to the new-born but he didn't respond to the treatment and expired.

Tanisha, daughter of Harish Meghwar, was born in Islamkot weighing 1.4kg. She was 12 days old and was admitted on January 14 at 1.45am, with Neonatal Sepsis problems. The infant could not survive due to incapability to cope to treatment. Another baby girl, Chanda daughter of Ramoon Thakur, was 19 days of age born in Dabhi village in Diplo taluka, weighing 1.2kg. She suffered Neonatal Sepsis as well and was provided necessary treatment, to which she didn't respond.

The Chachro Taluka Hospital MS reported the death of the two months' old baby boy, Parsan son of Achar Bheel, resident of Keetar village in Dahli taluka. According to the report, the baby suffered with pneumonia fever and fits. He expired as he couldn't respondent to the treatment provided.

Awareness campaign

On the instructions of the CM, the Population Welfare Department of Thar district has set up special camps for awareness, tubal ligation and Jadelle contraceptive procedures in 12 villages and held family planning awareness sessions with 174 clients. Moreover, six women had the Jadelle contraceptive procedure and 30 tubal ligation cases were conducted. The CM has directed the Population Welfare Department to create awareness amongst the villagers of Thar about the importance of pregnancy gaps for the health of the mother and child.



Relief work

The report said that free wheat relief activities were in progress across the district. On Thursday, 5,890 families were provided wheat under Phase-III of the campaign. Moreover, 57 families of Phase-II were given 50kg wheat bags. Ten families, that were left (who had not collected wheat bags) in Phase-I, also approached their respective sentinel points and collected wheat bags. As of Thursday, 247,209 families of Phase-I, 252,081 families of Phase-II and 93,440 families of Phase-III have received wheat bags at the scale of 50kg each.

The distribution of Family Ration Bags (FRB) amongst the pregnant and lactating women (PLW) is in progress. The second phase of FRB distribution amongst the PLW at their doorstep has been started for which the health department and PPHI have registered PLW through an extensive survey. Some 65,314 bags have been distributed in Phase-II and 36,656 bags stand already distributed in Phase-I till now.

Livestock

The livestock department has set up veterinary camps in 10 villages of different talukas. Of them, one camp has been set up at Mithi, one each in Diplo, Dahli and Nagarparkar, four in Islamkot and two in Chachro taluka. At the camps, 20 animals were treated and 8,568 vaccinated, whereas 339 were also drenched, the report concluded. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2019.